Bei Bei's eyes were filled with astonishment. The opponent before him was stronger than he had imagined, especially in physique and strength, which were utterly outrageous. Even his speed was not the least bit inferior to Bei Bei's.
Bei Bei grew exceptionally serious and suddenly lunged at Xu Zhengyang, moving as fast as lightning, his movements almost uncannily elusive. His hands, in particular, changed at that instant, their skin turning from its original yellow to the color of white jade.
Xu Zhengyang's expression shifted slightly. What Bei Bei was using should have been the so-called secret techniques of the Tang Sect: Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and Mysterious Jade Hand. He had not expected Bei Bei to have studied these secret techniques so deeply at such a young age.
But Xu Zhengyang showed no weakness. The instant they made contact, he swept his entire arm across, his fingers brimming with terrifying strength, like a knife-hand strike, yet also like a chopping spear strike.
Bei Bei reacted extremely quickly as well. His hands rotated in a strange motion, and Xu Zhengyang felt as though all the strength in his body had struck empty air, as though he had punched a wad of cotton.
Immediately afterward, his whole body felt somewhat weightless, as though his opponent were drawing him off balance.
Xu Zhengyang instantly understood what was happening. He drove force through both feet, forcibly stamping two shoeprints into the ground and steadying himself as though he had dropped a thousand-jin weight.
Then he curled both hands into five-fingered claws, condensed Soul Power in his fingers, and clawed at Bei Bei's right arm and left shoulder, one hand following the other.
Bei Bei was clearly much faster now than before. He abruptly flipped over, evading both of Xu Zhengyang's claws, then reached straight for Xu Zhengyang's shoulders with his jade-white hands.
Xu Zhengyang did not yield in the slightest. Just before they made contact, he condensed Soul Power in his shoulders and threw his entire body forward with all his might.
Bei Bei's grasp landed squarely on Xu Zhengyang's shoulder, but it did not have the effect he had imagined. He failed to injure Xu Zhengyang's shoulder; instead, he felt that Xu Zhengyang's muscles were like refined iron. In particular, as Xu Zhengyang leaned forward forcefully, he seemed to pour all his strength into it, bearing down like a heavy weight at that instant.
Bei Bei felt a terrifying force surge through his hands, and his entire body was forcibly blasted away. No matter how well he had mastered the Tang Sect's secret techniques, he could not possibly use Controlling Crane Catching Dragon against Xu Zhengyang when both sides clashed with their full strength like this.
Xu Zhengyang seized that instant as well, darting forward and charging swiftly toward Bei Bei. This time, he reached straight for the spot behind Bei Bei's heart.
Bei Bei lived up to his reputation as a genius of Shrek Academy. His reaction was extremely fast, and he actually forced himself into a roll on the ground, dodging Xu Zhengyang's attack.
But Xu Zhengyang grew fiercer the longer he fought, and his speed kept increasing, until it was no longer inferior even to Bei Bei's Phantom Shadow Perplexing Track.
The so-called Phantom Shadow Perplexing Track was a Tang Sect movement technique. Its movements were exceptionally elusive, but it could not make its user faster.
Xu Zhengyang, meanwhile, had spent all these years carrying weights, traveling along the coast and through Sunset Forest. His speed had long since surpassed that of ordinary people. Even going all out, Bei Bei could not escape Xu Zhengyang's attacks and could only rely on Controlling Crane Catching Dragon to resist.
At this critical moment, Bei Bei's second Soul Ring suddenly flashed. Endless lightning radiated from his entire body, and countless lightning serpents swelled simultaneously, forming a terrifying net that enveloped him before swiftly lunging toward Xu Zhengyang. This was Bei Bei's second Soul Skill: Thunderbolt Fury.
Seeing the terrifying lightning net sweep toward him, Xu Zhengyang felt no fear. His eyes even looked exceptionally defiant. He had ventured through so many places-how could he possibly fear a mere lightning net?
Xu Zhengyang condensed all the Soul Power in his body into his right hand and let out a sudden shout. Like a fierce tiger released from its cage, like a terrifying spear, he thrust straight at the enormous net formed from lightning.
Just as the terrifying lightning net was about to surround him, Xu Zhengyang's entire body seemed enveloped in blazing fire. With his right hand, he delivered another spear thrust with all his might. This thrust seemed accompanied by a tiger's roar, like the enormous phantom of a tiger pouncing straight at the terrifying Thunderbolt Fury.
This was a spear technique Xu Zhengyang had developed based on his second Soul Skill. Its name was Tiger Roars in the Mountains and Forests.
With a single thrust, the enormous tiger phantom forcibly tore apart Bei Bei's Thunderbolt Fury, even piercing straight through the entire lightning net.
When calm returned to the scene, Xu Zhengyang's fingers were already pressed against Bei Bei's left shoulder. Their terrifying force had shattered the clothing over it.
Bei Bei's face was now filled with dejection. He had actually suffered a crushing setback with this move. In particular, his opponent had broken through two of his hundred-year Soul Skills in succession without using any Soul Skills himself. The gap between their mastery of combat techniques was simply too great.
Xu Zhengyang, on the other hand, appeared exceptionally casual. He neither pressed his advantage nor inflicted serious injuries on Bei Bei.
"Do you still want to keep fighting?"
Bei Bei withdrew his Martial Soul and shook his head. "There's no need. Perhaps I could defeat you with my Soul Power, but I would definitely pay a heavy price."
"And whether it's physique, strength, or even combat techniques, there's a considerable gap between you and me."
By contrast, Tang Ya, standing nearby, looked extremely unwilling to accept this.
"Bei Bei, why are you afraid of him? You haven't even fully displayed your Tang Sect secret techniques yet. Besides, you're a Soul Elder! You have a thousand-year Soul Skill! Judging by his appearance, he should be a Grand Soul Master."
Bei Bei's expression was exceptionally bitter. "A loss is a loss. If this friend had used his full strength just now, I'm afraid I would already have been seriously injured. The gap in strength between us is too great."
Although Tang Ya seemed somewhat unwilling to accept it, she was only a Grand Soul Master and fell considerably short of Bei Bei. Even if she made a move herself, she would probably suffer a miserable defeat.
But Tang Ya still seemed a little stubborn. "So what? You still have our Tang Sect's hidden weapons. I refuse to believe you can't deal with a mere Grand Soul Master like him."
Bei Bei shook his head. "We're having an ordinary spar. If I used hidden weapons, what would be the point of sparring like this? Besides, this friend hasn't used a single Soul Skill from beginning to end, nor has he struck heavily. Even if I used the Tang Sect's hidden weapons, it would only end with both of us injured."
Xu Zhengyang paid no attention to Bei Bei and Tang Ya's conversation and instead prepared to leave outright. Shrek Academy was, after all, a place of trouble. Even if those old fellows would not bully someone younger, his strength was ultimately still too weak.
Just then, Bei Bei suddenly spoke. "Friend, judging by your clothing, you should be from the Heaven Soul Empire. Could you tell me your name? Perhaps we'll meet again someday, and I'll challenge you again then."
Xu Zhengyang paused slightly, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"That's right. I am indeed from the Heaven Soul Empire. My name is Long Aotian. Perhaps we really will have a chance to meet again."
"But even so, I'm afraid you still won't be my match the next time we meet. After that fight just now, you should know the gap between us."
Bei Bei's expression changed drastically when he heard this. He seemed to have already formed a guess about the background of the person before him.